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Dead hives..High nosema counts

I checked all my hives with the last warm spells. Only 4 out of 12 are alive and they are weak. There was plenty of honey/sugar water and some pollen. Test results from the Bee Lab in Maryland for the first two samples sent in came back :

I have read on the forum about sanitizing/cleaning boxes, frames and the comb with acetic acid or bleach and possible treating of the bees (OR NOT TREATING). However, I am not sure if that is appropriate AND if it has been effective for those who have done it.

So, are my combs/boxes contaminated with nosema?
If you have sanitized, how did it turn out.

I'll be installing new packages in April and want to have as clean of a re-start as possible. Any thoughts?

Re: Dead hives..High nosema counts

I sent samples from all hives...dead or alive. The hives had no fecal spotting inside or out. I'm just not sure how to prepare the hives for the next package of bees, ie. cleaning or sterilizing. I've had 7 great years of overwintering with very few losses. Felt kinda cocky. I've been humbled. Mites, CCD, pesticides, SHB, nosema, bad beekeepers,......what else do the bees need to deal with??

I'll post lab results when they come in..BUT still would like to hear from experienced keepers what they have done to clean up their hives after nosema problems.

Re: Dead hives..High nosema counts

Re: Dead hives..High nosema counts

I believe you are right about mites being a problem, too. I'm guilty of not performing an "after mite treatment" mite check. This was the first time I used HopGuard and used only one application instead of the three possible treatments. The wording on the HopGuard package was unclear to me. I thought it indicated that one application was sufficient and that you COULD use it up to three times per year. I read on the forum that three successive applications MAY be appropriate.

I'm still learning...and unfortunately it's at the expense of my bees.